DULUTH — When Jon Duncan served in the music department of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, one of his trademark ministries was the Baptist All-State Choir for youth. It was the close ties built within that ministry which made his decision to come to the Georgia Baptist Convention a difficult one.

With the formation of the Georgia Baptist All-State Choir and Orchestra, however, and the group’s recent tour in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Duncan’s vision for bringing that ministry to the Peach State has taken form.

Speaking to the 180 high school students who made up the choir and 20 sponsors, or chaperones, prior to the trip, Duncan encouraged them to be prepared for witnessing opportunities during their four days in and around the nation’s capital.

“This is a brand new experience for you,” he said. “Seize the moment. Be flexible and redeem the time given to you. You may have opportunities to share a quick word about who you are in Christ – be ready!

“We’re going to D.C. and Baltimore to plant the seeds of the Gospel through music. Baptists will be redefined in this area because of your witness here.”

The existence of the All-State Choir required a shift in normal summer activities for Music Ministries. Usually, Youth 1 Music Camp and Youth 2 Music Camp would be held to instruct those in middle school through the first year of college. The choir tour took the place of Youth 2 Music Camp. Youth 1 camp for middle schoolers took place while the high schoolers toured.

“All-State had become such an important part of the program among Oklahoma Baptists,” said Duncan. “Before my arrival in Georgia, one of the most important issues to music ministers around the state was the strengthening of our youth choirs.

“All-State gives young people an opportunity to be engaged in a GBC event that is directly tied to missions. In it students are able to share through song and have opportunities to build lasting connections around the state.”

With preliminary rehearsals already held, final rehearsals were at Brewton-Parker College June 18-19. The group traveled to Washington, D.C., and rehearsed June 20 before spending the remainder of the week performing throughout the area. A final travel day on June 26 culminated with a homecoming concert at First Baptist Newnan.

A reunion concert is scheduled for July 29 at Briarlake Baptist Church in Decatur. The concert will be a part of Church Music Georgia and is slated to begin at 3 p.m.

 

More than expected

Participants expressed that being on the inaugural All-State Choir tour opened their eyes to new experiences.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect,” said Rebecca Garner, a member of First Baptist Snellville and upcoming freshman at the University of Georgia. “It was so much more. I’ve never experienced something like this musically.

“This was a different way to reach out to people. You’re speaking to others through song. People were really receptive to it. I know we planted seeds while we were there.”

Melissa Baxter, a member of First Baptist Tifton who will be a junior at Tift County High School next year, agreed.

“I’ve been on choir tours in the past but this was the best. Everyone came together to sing for one purpose.

“People would come up to us and tell us what a good job we had done and how we had blessed them. A few asked us if we were going to be singing anywhere else.”

“This tour was a testimony to the strength of our youth choirs in the state and their ministry,” said Eddy Oliver, consultant for GBC Cooperative Program, Stewardship, and State Missions who served as a sponsor and accompanist for the ensemble. “We look to help participants develop not only their musical skills but their spiritual lives. They are the future of our music programs in this state.”

When Duncan arrived in Oklahoma, the state’s All-State program had fallen on hard times. He spearheaded its rebirth and saw the fruit of those efforts prior to his departure. He sees Georgia as a future leader among Southern Baptists in the work.

“Our first All-State Choir in Georgia had nearly 200 participants – nearly triple the size what Oklahoma started with,” he stated. “We’re very pleased with the incredible support given to this project.”